The Edmonton Oilers have bolstered their bottom six by acquiring Adam Henrique and Sam Carrick from the Anaheim Ducks. The Oilers also acquired a 7th-round pick in 2024 from the Ducks and the rights to goaltender Ty Taylor from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Return
In exchange, the Oilers sent the Ducks their 2024 1st-round pick and a conditional 5th-round pick in 2025. The conditional 5th becomes a 4th round pick if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup. The Oilers also sent a 4th round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for salary retention. Tampa will retain 25% of Henrique’s cap hit. The ducks also retained 50% of both Henrique’s and Carrick’s salary. Here is the full trade:
The Acquisitions
Henrique, 34, is having a good year on a rebuilding Ducks team. He has 18 goals and 42 points in 60 games this season. He is also winning 52.9 percent of his faceoffs. Henrique is a left-shot center who will slot in nicely on the Oilers third line. Henrique kills penalties and has also chipped in with 2 short-handed goals this season.
Adam Henrique is a pending unrestricted free agent with a 5.825 million dollar cap hit. With the salary retention involved, the Oilers are acquiring him with a cap hit of $1.45 million.
Carrick, 32, is 6’0, 200 lbs. He is a 4th line, right-shot center with 8 goals and 11 points in 61 games this season. He hits, kills penalties, and is 51 percent in the faceoff circle. Carrick is also a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of 850K. However, the Oilers are getting him at 425K.
Goaltender Ty Taylor, 24, is a former 7th-round pick back in 2018. He is currently playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), with the Evansville Thunderbolts. In 10 games this year he has a 3.02 GAA and a .907 save percentage. Here is a fun fact, Taylor also spent one season on The Grant MacEwan Griffins in 2021-2022. The Griffins are a USPORTS team located in Edmonton.
The New Look Lines
With this trade, the Edmonton Oilers drastically improved their depth without subtracting from the current roster. Here is a glimpse of what their lines could potentially look like with these additions:
| Nugent-Hopkins | McDavid | Hyman |
| Kane | Draisaitl | Foegele |
| McLeod | Henrique | Perry |
| Hollaway | Carrick | Janmark |
| Brown | Ryan |
Analysis
This is a good deal for the Oilers. They filled a few holes in the lineup with one trade. Fans might be disappointed in giving up a 1st round pick for two rentals, but in this league, you have to give to get. If all goes well and the Oilers go on a deep playoff run, this pick will be a late-rounder. The Oilers also have a history of poor drafting, so this gamble is worth the risk.
Will the Oilers make any more moves before the trade deadline? Trade calls must be submitted to the league office by 3 PM ET on Friday, March 8th.
The Edmonton Oilers are back in action this Thursday, 5 PM MT when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets from Nationwide Arena.
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